UNIVERSITY  (  1 1  I  I  I  II  I  I   I 

NORTH   CAROLI         lllllllllllllffll 

School  of  ffbU^  00022229410 
Science 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/treasuredmemorieOOmarg 


See  p.  34. 


TREASURED  MEMORIES 


FOR   LITTLE  CHILDREN. 


BY  THEIR  FRIEND  MARGARETTE. 


WRITTEN  FOR  THE   AMERICAN   SUNDAY-SCHOOL  UNION    AND 
REVISED   BY   THE   COMMITTEE   OF   PUBLICATION. 


|3I)ilabelpl)ia : 


No.  146   CHESTNUT   STREET. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  18-48,  by  the 

AMERICAN   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   UNION, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Eastern  District  of 
Pennsylvania. 


TBEASUKED  MEMORIES. 


-::.:, 


My  Little  Friends, 

Are  you  fond  of  stories  ? 

I  have  been  thinking  for  a  long  time 
of  telling  you  some,  for  I  remember  when 
I  was  a  very  little  child  how  happy  I 
was  when  I  could  put  my  little  chair 
close  to  my  own  dear  mother  s,  and  listen 
to  them  from  her  lips. 

Those  were  happy  days,  when  I  could 
scarce  contain  myself  for  joy :  but  many 
a  long  and  weary  hour  has  passed  since, 
and  now  I  feel,  at  times,  as  if  it  were  all 
a  dream,  and  as  if  I  had  never  known  a 
mother. 

Sometimes  I  shut  my  eyes,  and  try  to 
remember  how  she  looked  and  how  her 
1*  5 

696721 


b  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

voice  sounded ;  and  then  it  seems  as  if 
I  could  see  her  just  as  she  was  when  I 
was  a  child.  Sometimes  she  smiles  upon 
me,  as  she  used  to  do,  when  my  brother 
John  kneeled  with  me  at  her  knee,  to 
say  our  evening  prayers. 

At  other  times,  I  remember  her  face, 
as  it  looked  when  she  was  pale  and 
sorrowful,  and  her  mild  blue  eyes  are 
full  of  tenderness,  and  sometimes  over- 
flowing with  tears.  This  was  as  she 
used  to  be,  when  she  was  telling  us  what 
poor  little,  helpless,  and  sinful  children 
we  were,  and  how  much  we  needed  the 
grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  who  shed  his 
blood  for  us. 

And  then  again  I  listen  for  the  soft 
music  of  her  voice,  till  I  fancy  I  hear 
her  sing  once  more  her  favourite  hymn, 
and  mine,  which  begins  thus  : — 

"  Jerusalem,  my  happy  home, 
O,  how  I  long  for  thee !" 

I  thought  her  the  dearest  woman  in  the 
world,  and  the  sweetest  singer,  and 
never  dreamed  that  any  other  children 
had  half  so  kind  a  mother  as  ours. 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  / 

But  I  suppose  that  all  little  girls  and 
boys,  who  love  their  mothers,  think  of 
them  just  as  I  did  of  mine;  and  if  they 
do,  I  hope  they  will  not  do  as  I  some- 
times did;  for  I  must  confess  that  I  was 
a  selfish  child,  and  though  my  mother 
was  ever  kind  to  me,  I  often  wished  to 
follow  my  own  will  rather  than  obey  her. 
But  this  was  very  sinful,  and  God  who 
sees  all  our  acts,  hears  all  our  words, 
and  reads  our  most  secret  thoughts,  has 
made  me  suffer  for  my  disobedience. 
Very  little  children  can  do  many  things 
to  assist  their  parents  and  make  them 
happy,  if  they  are  so  disposed.  When 
their  fathers  come  home  weary  with  the 
labours  of  the  day,  they  can  at  least  be 
quiet  and  orderly,  and  when  their  mo- 
thers are  troubled  and  full  of  care,  they 
should  try  to  think  of  something  they 
may  do  to  help  them,  instead  of  selfishly 
teasing  for  this,  and  for  that,  and. the 
other  thing,  which  they  can  well  do 
without.  I  hope  you  will  remember 
this,  and,  above  all  things  in  the  world, 
never  dare  for  one  moment  to  think  of 
disobeying  them. 


8  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

I  am  a  grown-up  woman  now,  and  I 
never  fear  being  alone,  nor  going  in  the 
dark,  nor  upon  the  sea ;  and  I  dearly  love 
to  see  the  lightning,  and  to  hear  the  thun- 
der; but  what  I  am  now  going  to  tell 
you  is  true — /  am  always  afraid  of  a  dis- 
obedient child. 

Do  you  wonder  at  this  ?  Well  then  I 
will  try  to  explain  myself. 

In  the  first  place  we  are  never  truly 
alone.-  When  there  is  nobody  in  the 
room  with  us,  or  even  in  the  whole 
house,  no,  not  so  much  as  one  little  fly, 
to  break  the  stillness  which  is  around  us, 
we  are  not  then  alone.  No,  dear  children, 
God  himself  is  with  us ;  not  more  in  the 
clear  daylight  than  in  the  thick  dark- 
ness; not  more  on  the  sea  than  on  the 
land.  The  thunder,  and  the  lightning, 
are  his  servants,  and  they  never  dis- 
obey him.  They  can  never  harm  us 
without  his  permission ;  but  a  wicked, 
self-willed  child,  cares  neither  for  God, 
nor  man;  and  what  length  of  unkind- 
ness  or  treachery  might  not  I  expect 
from  children  who  dare  to  disobey  their 
own  dear  parents  ? 


FOR   LITTLE    CHILDREN.  V 

I  hope  my  little  readers  are  not  of 
their  number.  But  if  indeed  you  are, 
just  think  a  moment,  if  you  can  find 
any  one  in  the  whole  world  so  kind  to 
you  as  your  parents  are. 

Who  would  bear  with  your  faults  as 
they  do?  Who  would  take  such  care 
of  you  in  sickness,  as  your  mother  ? 
Day  and  night  she  watches  over  you, 
and  let  her  be  never  so  tired  herself,  she 
seems  to  forget  it,  if  you  need  her  atten- 
tion; and  no  sacrifice  of  her  own  rest  or 
comfort  is  too  great  for  her  to  make  for 
your  relief. 

How  dare  you  think  of  paining  her 
heart  by  neglect  or  wilfulness  ?  Can  you 
read  the  Bible  ?  And  do  you  know  whose 
book  it  is  ?  It  is  God's,  you  say.  Yes, 
it  is  his  own  holy  word,  which  he  has 
kindly  given,  to  teach  us  what  we  should 
be,  and  to  show  us  what  we  are  to  do; 
and  there,  he  has  bidden  us  to  honour 
our  father  and  mother,  that  our  days 
may  be  long  upon  the  land  which  he  has 
given  us. 

You  wish  to  be  happy,  I  dare  say,  but 
just  think  a  moment,  can  a  disobedient 


10  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

child  be  happy?  No  one  who  knows 
him,  and  who  loves  goodness,  can  love 
such  a  child.  All  well-meaning  persons 
are  displeased  with  his  conduct,  and  wish 
to  avoid  him;  for  however  much  thev 
may  pity  him,  and  wish  to  make  him 
better,  to  love  his  society  is  impossible. 
Would  you  like  to  know  that  all  good 
people  shunned  you,  and  disliked  you  ? 
No :  I  dare  say  it  would  vex  you  sadly 
to  be  slighted  by  any  one ;  but  if  you 
disobey  your  parents  you  richly  deserve 
it.  And  remember,  you  have  what  is* 
more  to  be  dreaded  than  this,  a  thou- 
sand times, — the  anger  of  God  is  rest- 
ing upon  you.  But  as  I  have  promised 
you  a  story,  I  shall  say  no  more  upon 
this  subject,  but  will  now  proceed,  at 
once,  to  tell  you  one 


ABOUT    MY    OWN    CHILDHOOD. 

When  I  was  a  little  girl,  I  lived  in  a 
small  neat  house  at  the  foot  of  a  moun- 
tain. We  had  few  neighbours,  for  it 
was  a  rough,  wild  place,  with  many  rocks 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  11 

and  stones  scattered  around.  But  lonely 
as  it  was,  I  was  never  at  a  loss  for  di- 
version, so  long  as  I  could  run  about 
and  pick  the  moss  and  mica  off  the  rocks, 
or  listen  to  the  birds  that  sang  in  the 
woods  and  hedges,  which  grew  near  our 
house. 

It  was  my  home,  and  I  loved  it  dearly, 
for  my  father  and  mother  lived  there, 
and  my  brothers  and  sisters  likewise. 
I  often  used  to  talk  of  going  to  a  distant 
part  of  the  country  to  see  my  grand- 
smother.  I  felt  delighted  with  the  idea, 
and  I  dare  say  I  have  asked  my  mother 
fifty  questions  in  a  day  about  her ;  as,  for 
example,  whether  she  wore  caps  like  old 
Mrs.  Howard,  and  walked  with  a  stick, 
or  used  spectacles,  or  smoked  a  pipe,  &c, 
as  some  old  women  did,  whom  I  had  seen; 
but  though  I  never  was  gratified  by  such 
a  visit,  I  was  on  the  whole  quite  con- 
tented. Indeed  I  do  not  think  the  visit 
would  have  added  to  my  happiness, 
unless  my  mother  had  gone  with  me. 

My  father's  business  usually  called 
him  away  in  the  morning  before  I  was 
up ;  but  I  can  well  remember  how  plea- 


12  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

santly  we  used  to  breakfast  with  our 
good  mother,  after  she  had  washed  us, 
and  returned  thanks  to  our  heavenly 
Father  for  having  preserved  us  through 
the  night,  and  for  providing  for  our  daily 
wants. 

Sometimes  I  used  to  help  her  clear 
away  the  things  after  breakfast,  and  as. 
I  had  a  little  broom,  she  would  let  me 
sweep  the  room,  and  set  the  chairs  in 
their  places ;  and  then,  if  she  had  any 
time  to  spare,  she  would  walk  with  me 
in  the  woods  and  let  me  gather  winter- 
greens,  and  wild  flowers.  Sometimes  in 
the  season  of  them,  we  found  nuts  and 
fruits,  whortle-berries,  and  blue-berries, 
swamp  apples,  &c. 

I  was  never  tired  of  these  rambles, 
for  I  was  ever  finding  something  that,  to 
me,  was  new  and  interesting,  and  my 
mother  was  ready  to  impart  instruction; 
for  she  looked  upon  the  face  of  nature 
as  on  a  beautiful  book,  written  and  pic- 
tured, by  a  God  of  benevolence  and 
wisdom,  for  us  to  study. 

There  were  so  many  trees,  plants,  and 
shrubs,    differing    from    each   other   in 


FOR   LITTLE    CHILDREN.  13 

colour,  shape,  and  size;  and  so  many 
sweet  young  flowers  with  various  forms 
and  hues,  that  I  had  enough  to  question 
her  about  all  the  day.  Some,  she  told 
me,  were  good  to  eat,  and  some  were 
good  for  medicine,  and  some  were  used 
for  other  purposes. 

There  was  the  sweet  fern  with  its 
fragrant  odour,  for  cleansing  the  blood; 
and  the  spice  bush  for  fever ;  crosswort 
and  betony,  and  many  others,  whose 
medicinal  properties  made  her  value 
them;  and  there  were  large  trees  for 
building,  and  for  fuel ;  and  there  w^as  the 
beautiful  wild  indigo,  with  its  smooth 
shining  leaves  and  yellow  blossoms,  for 
dyeing. 

"  Nothing  grows,"  as  my  dear  mother 
used  to  say,  "  not  even  poison-elder,  but 
for  some  wise  purpose."  I  used  to  wonder 
who  had  planted  so  many  beautiful 
things,  and  made  them  grow  up  thus  to- 
gether, and  then  she  would  tell  me  how 
the  great  God,  who  dwelleth  in  heaven, 
had  made  the  world,  and  all  things  in  it; 
the  glorious  sun  which  shines  so  brightly 
by  day,  and  the  pale,  gentle  moon,  and 
2 


14  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

every  little  star  that  twinkles  in  the 
evening  sky.  "  It  was  He,"  she  said, 
"  who  brought  the  tall  forest  tree  to  its 
goodly  height,  and  the  delicate  flower  to 
its  perfection  of  beauty.  His  Power 
alone  caused  the  fruits  to  ripen  for  our 
nourishment,  and  bade  each  healing 
plant  come  from  the  earth."  And  then 
she  would  look  earnestly  into  my  face, 
and  say,  "  My  daughter,  is  not  God  good 
to  make  such  a  beautiful  world  for  us  to 
live  in,  and  to  fill  it  with  such  good  and 
pleasant  things  ?" 

Then,  when  I  would  answer  "Yes,  mo- 
ther," she  would  say,  "My  child,  he  has 
done  greater  things  for  us  than  this." 
And  then  she  would  tell  me  how  he 
created  the  earth,  in  six  days,  and  rested 
upon  the  seventh,  the  blessed  Sabbath. 
How  he  made  Adam  and  Eve,  our  first 
parents,  and  placed  them  in  the  garden 
of  Eden,  where  there  grew  every  tree 
that  was  pleasant  to  the  sight,  and  good 
for  food.  That  when  He  saw  that  every 
thing  which  he  had  made  was  good,  he 
gave  Adam  power  over  all  living  things, 
and  told  him  to  eat  of  every  kind  of 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  15 

fruit,  save  that  which  grew  upon  the 
tree  of  knowledge.  How  happy,  how 
beautiful  they  must  then  have  been ! 
The  good  and  holy  God  was  their  Fa- 
ther; they  were  created  in  his  own  image, 
and  were  utter  strangers  to  pain  and 
sin.  How  I  wished  my  mother  would 
take  me  to  see  this  garden,  and  how 
mournfully  she  answered  my  entreaties! 
"  Nearly  six  thousand  years  have  passed 
away,  my  child,"  she  continued,  "  since 
our  first  parents  were  driven  from  that 
holy  place  for  disobedience.  The  ser- 
pent tempted  Eve  our  mother,  and 
though  God  had  plainly  told  her  what 
an  awful  punishment  would  follow  her 
disobedience,  she  chose  to  take  fruit 
from  off  the  forbidden  tree,  and  eat  of 
it  herself,  and  persuaded  her  husband  to 
partake  of  it  also.  Thus  in  the  self- 
same hour  they  became  mortal  as  well 
as  sinful,  and  exposed  themselves  and 
all  their  posterity  to  the  most  dreadful 
doom." 

And  then  she  would  tell  me  how  they 
must  have  felt,  after  they  had  eaten  the 
fruit;  how  they  saw  themselves  naked, 


16  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

and  were  ashamed ;  and  how  they  tried 
to  hide  themselves  from  God,  but  could 
not — for  his  voice  reached  their  ears, 
and  his  eye  sought  them  out  amid  the 
thickest  trees  ;  how  wretched  they  were 
when  driven  forth,  and  how  their  eldest 
born  became  a  murderer;  and  that  we, 
too,  are  born  in  sin,  and  exposed  to 
death.  Keceiving  a  sinful  nature  from 
them,  all  our  thoughts  naturally  tend  to 
evil  continually,  and  that  the  wrath  of 
God  justly  rests  upon  all  the  guilty  world. 

And  furthermore,  she  told  us  how 
God  still  loved  and  pitied  them;  and 
although  he  had  driven  them  from  their 
pleasant  home  and  cursed  the  ground, 
for  their  misdoings,  he  gave  them  a 
promise,  that,  in  his  own  good  time,  he 
would  provide  a  Saviour  for  them,  by 
whom  they,  and  their  descendants,  might 
be  restored  to  God's  favour. 

Then  she  would  take  the  New  Testa- 
ment, and  read  about  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
"  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  Saviour  of 
men;"  how  he  left  heaven  to  come  to 
earth,  to  suffer  and  die  for  sinners.  I 
cannot  tell  you  all  she  used  to  say  upon 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  17 

this  subject,  for  it  is  one  she  loved  to 
dwell  upon. 

But  when  she  told  me  how  he  became 
a  babe,  and  was  cradled  in  a  manger, 
and  grew  to  manhood;  obeying  his  earthly 
parents,  and  working  daily  for  his  bread, 
poor  and  despised,  yet  doing  good  to 
every  one  around,  and  at  last  dying  on 
the  cross !  I  hardly  knew  how  to  believe 
her.  Then  she  would  tell  me,  that  it 
was  for  my  sake,  and  others  like  me, 
that  he  died  so.  And  when  she  read 
how  Peter  denied,  and  Judas  betrayed 
him,  and  I  so  stoutly  maintained  that  I 
should  never  have  acted  so  wickedly, 
she  would  tell  me,  I  little  knew  what  a 
poor  little  guilty  creature  I  was  in  the 
sight  of  so  holy  a  being. 

Sometimes  I  would  get  so  enraged 
against  the  Jews  for  having  crucified  the 
Saviour,  that  I  would  interrupt  her 
reading,  and  then  she  would  remark 
that  my  sins,  too,  had  helped  to  nail  him 
on  the  cross.  But  I  could  not  under- 
stand her,  nor  believe  that  I  was  myself 
so  wicked  as  she  had  represented,  and 
when  she  told  me  that  my  heart  must 
2* 


18  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

be  changed,  or  I  should  perish  for  ever, 
and  that  nothing  but  the  blood  of  Christ 
could  wash  away  my  sins,  I  was  amazed 
and  angry.  I  was  ignorant  and  sinful 
to  feel  so,  and  I  hope,  dear  children,  that 
you,  by  the  grace  of  God,  will  be  made 
wiser  and  more  humble  than  I  was. 
And  now  I  will  tell  you 


ABOUT    OUR   SABBATH    WALK. 

It  was  a  chilly  day.  The  winds 
howled  mournfully  among  the  trees,  and 
there  were  dark  clouds  hanging  low  in 
the  skies.  My  parents  both  looked  very 
sad,  and  all  in  the  house  were  silent. 
We  could  just  hear  the  bell  of  a  distant 
church  faintly  ringing,  when  my  father 
took  down  his  Bible,  to  read.  "  Well," 
said  he,  laying  the  book  on  the  table, 
"  Ahimaaz  has  learned  a  lesson,  that  no 
living  man  can  know."  "  What  is  it,  fa- 
ther T  said  I.  "  He  has  learned  how  to 
die,  my  child,  a  lesson  which  we  too 
must  soon  learn,"  was  the  reply. 

I  cannot  tell  you  how  strangely  his 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  19 

words  sounded,  but  they  kept  ringing  in 
my  ears  a  long  while.  I  had  frequently 
heard  death  spoken  of,  as  the  end  of  our 
life  in  this  world,  and  the  beginning  of 
our  existence  in  another;  but  I  had 
never  seen  it. 

I  looked  towards  my  mother,  hoping 
that  she  would  explain  what  my  father 
had  been  saying,  and  seeing  that  her 
eyes  were  filled  with  tears,  I  began  to 
weep  too  from  sympathy.  She  kissed 
me,  and  said  we  should  not  go  to  church 
that  morning,  and  told  me  to  be  silent, 
while  my  father  should  read,  adding 
that,  in  the  afternoon,  she  would  take 
me  with  her  to  the  funeral.  This  pleased 
me  much,  and  I  felt  impatient  for  the 
hour  to  come. 

It  seemed  a  long  and  weary  day,  but 
at  length  the  clock  struck  three,  and  we 
were  on  our  way  to  Mr.  Waddell's. 

We  had  to  cross  a  piece  of  woods,  and 
as  it  was  early  spring,  the  trees  were 
quite  bare ;  and  the  fallen  and  withered 
leaves  crackled  with  an  unpleasant 
sound  under  our  feet.  There  were  no 
flowers  springing  up  by  our  pathway, 


20  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

nor  was  the  voice  of  any  little  birds  to  be 
heard  among  the  trees ;  and  the  few  ever- 
greens which  were  here  and  there  scat- 
tered throughout  the  woods,  had  such  a 
dark  and  gloomy  appearance,  that  I  was 
glad  when  we  had  passed  through  them. 
We  soon  came  to  the  house,  and  if 
the  woods  had  seemed  gloomy,  Mr.  Wad- 
dell's  dwelling  was  still  more  so.  It  was 
still  as  night.  I  remember  how  very  clean 
the  large  old  kitchen  was,  and  how 
brightly  the  fire  blazed  in  the  deep 
chimney.  The  shovel  and  tongs,  too, 
I  have  still  in  recollection,  how  large 
they  were,  and  how  straight  they  stood 
on  each  side  of  the  fire-place.  There 
were  many  things  that  seemed  rather 
imposing,  as  I  then  thought,  about  the 
room.  The  high-backed  arm-chairs  that 
were  ranged  along  the  wall ;  the  old  clock 
in  the  corner,  with  the  ruddy  face  of  the 
moon  staring  from  the  top  of  the  plate ; 
and  then  the  heavy  looking  andirons, 
with  great  globes  of  iron  bent  over,  and 
hanging  down,  were  all  subjects  of  my 
childish  meditation,  and  I  felt  very 
sad.     But  when   I   entered   the   south 


FOR   LITTLE    CHILDREN.  21 

room,  and  found  the  looking-glass  cover- 
ed, and  the  round  table  standing  in  the 
centre,  with  the  Bible  and  Psalm  Book 
lying  upon  it,  I  was  still  more  impressed. 
Soon  the  neighbours  began  to  come  in, 
and  then  the  minister  came;  and  we 
heard  sobbing  in  another  room.  I  almost 
held  my  breath  with  terror,  when  the 
family  came  out,  all  dressed  in  black, 
from  the  eldest  to  the  youngest.  The 
good  old  minister  arose  at  length,  and 
began  to  address  them,  but  I  can  remem- 
ber little  that  he  said,  save  that  "  Death 
had  again  entered  their  windows;  and 
that  Ahimaaz  had  gone  to  his  long 
home.     Then  they  sung  this  hymn  : 

Hark  !  from  the  tombs  a  doleful  sound, 

Mine  ears  attend  the  cry ; 
Ye  living  men,  come  view  the  ground 

Where  you  must  shortly  lie. 

Princes,  this  clay  must  be  your  bed, 

In  spite  of  all  your  towers  ; 
The  tall,  the  wise,  the  reverend  head, 

Must  lie  as  low  as  ours. 

Great  God,  is  this  our  certain  doom, 
And  are  we  still  secure  ? 


22  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

Still  walking  downward  to  the  tomb, 
And  yet  prepared  no  more  ? 

Grant  us  the  power  of  quickening  grace, 

To  fit  our  souls  to  fly, 
Then  when  we  drop  our  dying  flesh, 

We'll  rise  above  the  sky. 

After  this,  the  minister  stood  up  and 
prayed,  and  when  he  had  made  an  end 
of  praying,  my  mother  led  me  into  the 
front  entry;  where  I  saw  something 
lying  on  the  table,  perfectly  still  and 
covered  all  over  with  a  black  cloth. 

My  father  went  up  to  it  and  lifted  the 
cloth,  and  there  I  saw  a  beautiful  colour- 
ed box,  which  he  then  opened,  and  at 
the  same  time,  the  minister  invited  the 
friends  "to  approach  and  take  the  last 
look  at  the  remains."  I  was  very  eager 
to  get  a  sight  of  its  contents,  so  my  dear 
mother  lifted  me  in  her  arms,  and  I 
looked  into  it,  and  there  lay  Ahimaaz 
Waddell,  who  had  played  with  my  own 
brothers  ever  since  I  could  remember, 
and  who  had  seemed  even  as  one  of  us, 
with  his  voice  full  of  music,  and  his 
heart  of  happiness,  and  his  young  limbs 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  23 

of  life  and  motion.  There  he  lay,  as 
white  as  snow,  and  as  silent  as  if  he  had 
been  a  marble  statue. 

I  only  noticed  that  his  lips  were  part- 
ed, and  changed  in -colour,  and  that  he 
had  a  cent  laid  upon  each  of  his  eyes. 
Had  it  not  been  for  these,  I  should  have 
thought  he  was  asleep.  But  when  my 
mother  laid  my  hand  upon  the  face  of 
that  pale  silent  boy,  I  cannot  tell  you 
what  a  chill  crept  over  me.  It  was  cold 
as  ice,  and  seemed  as  smooth  and  hard 
as  a  stone !  I  felt  as  if  I  should  never 
speak  again,  and  choking  for  breath,  I 
clung  around  my  mother's  neck,  trem- 
bling from  head  to  foot  with  fear. 

Soon  after  they  closed  the  coffin,  we 
left  the  house,  but  I  kept  looking  back, 
and  when  I  saw  them  bring  out  the 
coffin,  and  my  mother  told  me  that  they 
were  about  to  bury  his  body  in  the 
ground,  I  wanted  to  go  back  and  stop  them. 
It -was  nearly  night  when  we  reached 
home.  The  winds  howled,  and  I  could 
hear  the  sharp  quick  barking  of  the 
foxes  in  the  mountain ;  and  it  was  alto- 


24  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

gether  the  most  melancholy  day  I  had 
ever  spent  in  my  life. 

We  had  our  supper,  and  my  mother 
took  me  into  her  lap,  and  talked  with 
we  about  death  and  eternity.  This  she 
had  often  done  before,  but  now  that  I 
had  looked  upon  the  face  of  the  dead,  I 
heard  her  with  new  interest.  She  told 
me  that  I  too  must  die,  and  my  body 
must  be  laid  in  the  grave ;  and  that  my 
bones  would  return  to  the  dust.  But 
this  she  said  need  not  trouble  us,  for 
notwithstanding  we  do  die,  and  our 
bodies  become  as  the  dust,  they  will 
afterwards  be  raised  from  the  grave, 
clothed  with  life  and  immortality ;  and 
that  all  who  in  this  life  truly  love  and 
serve  God,  will  go,  when  they  die,  to  be 
with  him  for  ever  in  heaven. 

I  asked  her  how  we  could  go  to  heaven 
and  be  happy,  when  our  bodies  were 
buried  here  in  the  grave  ? 

She  replied,  "Our  bodies  are  only  a 
part  of  us.  They  are  only  houses  for 
our  souls  to  dwell  in,  while  God  sees  fit 
to  let  them  stay  in  the  world ;  and  when 
he  sees  fit  to  take  our  souls  to  another 


FOR   LITTLE    CHILDREN.  25 

world,  he  leaves  the  earthly  house,  which 
is  the  body,  to  return  to  the  dust  from 
which  it  had  been  taken."  Then  I 
asked  what  the  soul  was,  and  she  told 
me,  that  it  is  the  part  that  thinks  and 
feels,  the  part  that  is  glad  and  sorry. 

This  all  seemed  strange  and  wonder- 
ful, but  what  seemed  most  wonderful 
was,  that  our  bodies  should  be  buried, 
and  return  to  dust,  and  yet  be  raised 
again  from  the  grave.  I  said  so,  and 
she  bade  me  look  at  the  trees  as  they 
then  stood,  brown,  bare,  and  leafless,  and 
then  she  said,  do  we  not  know  that  in  a 
few  weeks  they  will  be  covered  with 
green  leaves,  and  beautiful  blossoms; 
and  that  when  we  gaze  upon  their  burst- 
ing buds  and  vigorous  sprouts,  we  may 
see  that  the  same  God  who  clothes  the 
forest  tree  with  life  and  beauty,  can,  in 
his  own  good  time,  bring  back  Ahimaaz 
from  the  grave  and  renew  his  youth? 
and  make  him  immortal  ? 

This  gave  me  some  little  comfort,  but 
I  was  still  greatly  troubled,  and  told  my 
mother  that  I  never  meant  to  go  to  sleep 
again,  for  fear  I  should  die  in  my  bed. 
3 


26  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

This  she  said  was  foolish,  and  sinful ; 
and  that  she  could  not  feel  too  thankful 
for  the  hope,  that  her  poor  body,  so  often 
worn  with  toil,  and  afflicted  by  sickness 
and  pain,  would  ere  long  be  laid  down 
to  its  rest.  I  thought  that  she  talked 
very  strangely,  and  I  could  hardly  believe 
she  was  sincere,  when  she  called  the 
grave  "a  sweet  resting-place,"  but  I 
knew  she  never  had  deceived  me ;  and 
she  bade  me  remember  that  our  blessed 
Lord  and  Saviour  had  once  lain  in  the 
grave,  and  had  risen  from  thence  in 
glory.  And  then  she  added,  that  the 
grave  had  no  terrors  for  the  friends  and 
followers  of  Christ,  and  that  it  was  her 
daily  prayer,  that  God  would 

"  Teach  me  to  live  that  I  might  dread 
The  grave  as  little  as  my  bed." 

It  seemed  as  if  this  might  never  be ; 
for  I  thought  that  death  was  so  terrible 
a  thing,  that  nothing  could  ever  rid  me 
of  the  fears  of  it, — much  less  make  me 
look  upon  it  as  a  resting-place. 

I  said  so,  and  then  my  mother  bade 
me  think  of  poor  old  Mrs.  Karnes,  who 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN,  27 

was  so  old  that  she  could  neither  feed 
herself,  nor  put  on  her  clothes,  and  who 
was  so  blind  and  deaf  that  she  could  not 
see  her  dearest  friend,  nor  scarcely  hear 
the  voice  of  any  one.  And  then  she 
asked  me  if  I  would  wish  to  live  to  be  so 
old  and  helpless  as  she  was.  But  I 
could  not  think  that  my  eyes  would  ever 
be  so  sunken  and  sightless,  or  that  my 
hands  could  shake  so,  or  that  my  face 
could  be  filled  with  such  deep  and  ugly 
wrinkles. 

I  went  to  bed  in  a  wakeful  mood,  and 
when  the  light  was  put  out,  let  me  turn 
which  way  I  would,  Ahimaaz, — with  the 
same  cold,  snowy  cheeks  and  livid-blue 
lips, — was  still,  as  I  fancied,  lying  shroud- 
ed and  motionless  before  me. 

It  was  but  for  a  little  while.  I  soon 
fell  asleep,  and  in  the  morning  I  was  as 
happy  and  gay  as  a  lark,  and  in  a  little 
while  I  had  almost  forgotten  that  death 
was  in  the  world.  It  was  now  really 
spring.  We  had  watched  the  snow,  day 
after  day,  as  it  melted  and  flowed  down 
the  mountain,  till  all  was  gone ;  and  the 
little  rill  at  the  bottom  of  the  garden 


28  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

had  swollen  to  a  large  stream.  How 
lovely  are  the,  first  days  of  spring  !  The 
air  was  soft  and  fragrant,  and  such  plea- 
sant sounds  floated  upon  its  wings.  The 
old  woods  were  growing  green  again,  and 
soon  I  saw  that  there  were  dandelions 
and  violets  in  the  field.  The  time  of 
the  singing  of  birds  had  come,  and  there 
were  robins,  and  whip-poor-wills,  chirp- 
ing swallows,  meadow  larks,  blackbirds, 
and  many  others,  which  seemed  to  have 
come  together  to  make  the  earth  glad 
with  their  melody. 

How  pleasantly  these  little  songsters 
ushered  in  each  successive  spring  morn- 
ing, with  their  varied  music.  And  then, 
as  the  day  advanced,  other  pleasures 
followed;  for  we  had  chickens,  and  gos- 
lings, and  young  lambs ;  and  I  was  so 
happy  when  permitted  to  feed  them,  and 
see  them  gambol  upon  the  soft  green 
lawn,  as  if  crowned  with  the  bliss  of 
newly  tasted  life,  that  it  is  still  a  joy 
for  me  to  remember  it. 

Those  of  you,  dear  children,  who  have 
lived  in  the  country  amid  these  pleasant 
scenes,  will  readily  understand  why  I  so 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  29 

loved  them,  and  why  I  never  tired  of  my 
daily  walks. 

Sometimes  I  went  alone,  to  look  for 
flowers  and  pin-cushions,  (as  I  used  to 
call  the  little  beds  of  green  moss,)  but 
oftener  my  brother  John  went  with  me. 
Many  curious  things  did  we  meet  with 
in  our  rambles. 

Little  children,  do  you  ever  think 
what  a  kind  and  loving  father  God  is, 
to  provide  so  many  delightful  things  for 
us,  and  to  give  us  a  capacity  to  enjoy 
them  ?  Can  we  ever  be  thankful  enough 
for  his  many  gifts?  When  we  look 
abroad  upon  his  manifold  works,  and 
behold  their  harmony  and  order,  it  seems 
that  there  is,  among  them  all,  none  but 
man  that  dares  to  disobey  him.  How 
strange,  how  sad  a  thing  is  it,  that  envy, 
malice,  fraud,  revenge,  hatred,  impurity, 
and  murder,  should  have  a  home  in  such 
a  beautiful  world.  No  one,  let  him  be 
placed  in  what  situation  he  may,  is 
destitute  of  some  enjoyment,  unless  a 
course  of  sin  has  unfitted  him  for  happi- 
ness. 

Those  of  you  who  live  in  the  city  are 
3* 


30  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

continually  seeing  something  rare  and 
beautiful.  There  are  fairs,  and  mu- 
seums, and  gardens  to  amuse  you,  and 
you  have  many  interesting  books  and 
pictures,  and  numberless  curious  play- 
things, that  country  children  have  not. 
But  still,  God  is  not  partial,  and  the 
simple  country  child,  with  a  cheerful 
heart,  need  never  be  at  a  loss  for  amuse- 
ment. No;  the  little  girl  who  serves 
her  guests  with  mimic  tea  from  her 
acorn  shell  cups,  need  not  envy  the  one 
who  has  a  service  of  china.  Nay,  rather 
let  her  ask  herself,  whose  forming  hand 
carved  out  those  shells  so  elegantly, 
whose  genial  breath  ripened  the  summer 
fruits,  and  clothed  the  vine  with  such 
broad  and  goodly  leaves.  The  finest 
linen  may  not  compare  with  the  table- 
covering  she  plucks  from  it,  nor  could 
one  shell  like  hers  be  made  by  all  the 
curious  workmen  in  China. 

I  have  seen  some  children  who  were 
never  pleased  with  any  thing  they  have 
themselves,  but  are  always  coveting 
what  others  have.  Do  you  think  such 
children  are  happy?     You  will  answer 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  31 

No,  I  dare  say ;  for  you  will  perceive  at 
once,  that  they  break  the  tenth  com- 
mandment, where  God  has  expressly 
forbidden  us  to  covet  any  thing  that  is 
our  neighbour's.  Others  again  are  so 
filled  with  self-love,  that  they  think 
themselves  better  than  any  one  else, 
and  that  every  thing  they  have  is  better 
than  any  thing  which  others  have. 
This  also  is  foolish  and  wicked. 

God  made  us  all,  and  though  he  has 
given  wealth  to  some,  and  beauty  to 
others,  placed  some  in  power,  and  others 
in  subjection  and  poverty,  he  careth 
alike  for  all.  He  hears  the  prayers  of 
the  poor  as  well  as  of  the  rich,  and  has 
opened  the  way  of  salvation  for  the  slave, 
as  well  as  for  his  master;  loving  him 
best  only,  who  serves  him  with  the 
purest  heart. 

I  have  seen  some  little  children,  whose 
parents  were  rich,  that  really  seemed  to 
despise  all  that  were  poorer  than  them- 
selves. I  pity  such  children,  for  they 
show  plainly  that  they  are  weak,  silly, 
and  unthankful.  If  God  has  given  you 
riches,  you  should  be  ever  grateful  to 


32  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

him  for  giving  you  power  to  relieve  the 
wants  of  others,  and  to  extend  happiness 
to  them.  If  you  are  disposed  to  slight 
or  despise  any  one,  let  me  advise  you  to 
wait  till  you  meet  with  a  person  whom 
God  did  not  create,  and  for  whom  Jesus 
Christ  did  not  die,  before  you  indulge  in 
such  a  disposition.  On  the  other  hand, 
if  you  are  poor  and  destitute,  and  feel  like 
indulging  in  envy,  or  covetousness,  when 
you  see  rich  people  enjoying  luxuries 
and  comforts  which  you  cannot  obtain ; 
read  the  history  of  our  Saviour's  life  and 
suffering.  He  was  born  in  a  stable.  He 
grew  up  in  obscurity  and  poverty,  and 
laboured  daily  for  his  bread;  and  when 
he  grew  to  be  a  man,  he  had  neither 
house  nor  home.  Are  you  poorer  than 
he  was  ?  The  bird  of  the  air  has  her 
own  warm  nest,  and  the  thieving  fox  a 
home  of  safety ;  but  that  blessed  head, 
that  was  bowed  upon  the  cross,  for  our 
redemption,  had  not  a  place  to  lay  itself. 
I  believe  if  you  will  but  keep  this  in 
mind,  you  will  neither  feel  envious  nor 
discontented. 


FOR   LITTLE    CHILDREN.  33 

And  now,  my  little  friends,  I  will  tell 
you  something  about 


ANOTHER  SABBATH  WALK. 

I  have  said  that  spring  had  come.  It 
was  a  lovely  morning  truly,  for  the  air 
was  sweet  and  balmy,  and  when  the  sun 
arose,  there  was  a  host  of  little  musicians 
loudly  singing  to  make  him  welcome. 
When  I  awoke,  I  saw  my  father  sitting 
by  the  window  with  his  Bible  in  his 
hand.  It  was  the  Sabbath,  and  though 
I  was  delighted  with  the  thought  of 
breakfasting  with  him,  (which  was  my 
Sabbath  morning  privilege,)  I  knew  also 
that  I  must  be  very  still.  So  I  rose 
quietly,  and  we  all  breakfasted  pleasantly 
together,  and  after  we  had  done,  my 
mother  told  me  that  1  might  go  with  her 
to  the  place  of  worship.  This  she  es- 
teemed a  great  privilege.  I  think  I  shall 
never  forget  that  day. 

Our  way  lay  through  wood  and  field, 
and  both  were  teeming  with  life  and 
beauty.     The  foliage  of  the  trees  was 


34  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

not  yet  fully  expanded,  but  the  tiny 
leaves  were  so  green  and  glossy,  that 
when  the  yellow  sunlight  came  stream- 
ing through  them,  it  seemed  like  liquid 
gold,  falling  through  a  broken  roof  of 
emerald. 

We  walked  leisurely  along,  talking  as 
we  went.  Sometimes  a  singing  bird 
would  arrest  our  attention,  and  then  my 
mother  would  make  some  remark,  upon 
its  notes  of  praise  to  its  Creator.  Then 
a  butterfly  would  come  sailing  along  on 
its  coloured  wings,  and  she  would  point 
to  it  as  a  beautiful  emblem  of  the  resur- 
rection. Farther  on,  perchance,  a  honey 
bee  would  be  poising  upon  some  little 
blossoms.  Then  she  would  bid  me  note 
its  cheerful  industry,  and  to  bear  in 
mind,  that  it  only  extracted  the  sweet 
and  wholesome  qualities  of  the  flowers. 

A  good  example  is  furnished  by  this 
little  insect,  she  would  add,  for  little 
children  to  copy.  For,  in  so  doing,  they 
would,  in  their  habits  of  industry,  be 
useful  to  their  friends  and  to  the  world, 
happier  themselves,  and  consequently 
escape   the   many   and   grievous   temp- 


\ 

FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  35 

tations  to  which  idlers  are  exposed. 
And  another  wholesome  lesson  may  be 
learned  from  the  bee,  to  gather  good 
from  our  associates,  rather  than  evil. 
This  is  important  for  all  little  children 
to  observe.  The  bee  does  not  extract 
poison  and  bitterness  from  any  plant, 
though  perchance  it  may  light  on  many 
that  possess  these  qualities. 

I  could  have  passed  this  day,  amid 
these  pleasant  sights  and  sounds,  most 
willingly,  but  we  soon  reached  the  place 
of  worship,  where  a  new  scene  opened. 
The  people  seemed  deeply  engaged, 
when  they  were  at  prayer.  And  after 
their  services  were  ended,  many  of  them 
lingered  and  seemed  unwilling  to  leave 
the  place,  and  finally  united  in  singing 
a  favourite  hymn.  I  was  delighted  with 
it  all,  and  as  we  were  going  home  I  told 
my  mother  that  I  wanted  to  die  then  and 
go  to  heaven.  This  made  her  look  very 
sorrowfully  upon  me,  and  she  told  me 
that  I  did  not  understand  what  I  was 
saying. 

We  sat  down  upon  a  fallen  tree  in  the 
edge  of  the  wood,  and  talked  a  long  time 


36  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

upon  this  interesting  subject.  Among 
other  things,  I  recollect  her  saying  that 
she  had  often  prayed  to  God  to  let  me 
live  until  my  heart  should  be  changed 
by  his  Holy  Spirit,  and  I  should  become 
a  Christian.  When  I  replied  that  I 
loved  God  and  was  a  Christian  already, 
she  asked  me  how  I  should  feel,  and 
what  I  would  do,  when  I  reached  home, 
if  I  should  find  that  my  brother  had 
burnt  up  my  doll,  and  torn  down  my 
play-house  ?  I  replied  that  I  should  hate 
him,  and  burn  his  kite  and  ball.  She 
said  that  if  I  were  truly  a  Christian  I 
could  not  hate  him,  let  him  annoy  and 
trouble  me  ever  so  much,  not  even  if  he 
should  burn  every  plaything  I  had  in 
the  world. 

I  could  not  see  how  it  was  possible  to 
love  a  person  who  delighted  in  teasing 
us  and  doing  us  harm. 

Do  any  of  you  think  so,  my  little 
friends  ?  It  is  a  sad  and  fearful  mistake. 
Just  hear  what  our  Lord  says :  "  Love 
your  enemies.  Bless  them  that  curse 
you,  and  do  good  to  them  that  despite- 
fully   use   and  persecute   you."     Then 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  37 

look  at  the  history  of  his  own  life.  He 
was  despised,  mocked/  railed  at,  and 
finally  denied  and  betrayed  and  delivered 
up  to  death,  by  his  own  familiar  friends 
and  disciples.  Did  he  seek  revenge? 
Never. 

What  a  blessed  example  to  us  is  the 
history  of  his  sufferings  and  death. 
Leaving  heaven  of  his  own  free  will,  and 
taking  to  himself  a  mortal  body, — going 
about  doing  good, — toiling  daily, — giving 
sight  to  the  blind,  hearing  to  the  deaf, 
and  healing  the  sick; — sinless  himself, 
yet  bearing  the  curse  of  sin  for  others ; 
and  at  last  nailed  to  the  cross,  with  the 
curse  of  God  for  our  transgressions  rest- 
ing on  his  head,  how  did  he  die?  He 
died  in  the  act  of  Praying  for  the  very 

MEN     WHO     HAD     NAILED      HIM      TO     THE 

cross — "  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they 
know  not  what  they  do." 

Think  of  this,  dear  children,  often,  and 
ask  yourselves  for  whom  he  made  this 
amazing  sacrifice  ?  Was  it  not  to  take 
away  your  sins  and  mine  that  he  suffer- 
ed thus  ?  Surely  it  was  for  us,  and  for 
a  sinful  world,  that  he  shed  his  most 
4 


38  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

precious  blood ;  but  do  not  let  us  think 
that  he  has  taken  away  our  sin,  unless 
our  lives  in  some  way  resemble  his. 
And  do  not  think,  dear  children,  that 
simply  going  to  church  and  Sabbath- 
school,  or  formally  saying  your  prayers, 
can  save  you.  You  must  be  cleansed 
from  sin  by  Christ's  blood,  and  renewed 
by  the  Holy  Spirit.  Do  you  want  to  be 
cleansed  and  sanctified  ?  Ask,  and  you 
shall  receive.     But  to  return. 

As  we  passed  along  on  our  way,  my 
dear  mother  seemed  very  solemn  and 
full  of  thought.  She  pointed  to  the  green 
leaves,  and  remarked  that  when  we  had 
passed  that  way  the  last  time,  the  trees 
were  brown  and  bare.  I  remembered  it 
well,  for  it  was  the  day  on  which  Ahi- 
maaz  Waddell  had  been  buried,  and  that 
put  me  in  mind  of  what  she  had  said 
touching  the  resurrection.  She  now 
asked  me  if  I  thought  it  required  greater 
power  to  raise  the  dead,  than  it  did  to 
work  such  changes  in  the  woods  and 
fields.  I  knew  not  what  to  say,  so  I 
asked  her  how  she  knew  that  the  dead 
would  be  raised  again.     She  replied  that 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  39 

God  had  said  they  should  be,  and  that 
it  was  impossible  that  any  promise  of  his 
should  not  be  fulfilled.  And  then  she 
mentioned  many  which  have  been  already 
fulfilled ;  such  as  the  return  of  the  seed- 
time and  harvest,  that  the  sun  should 
shine,  and  that  the  rain  should  fall  upon 
the  just  and  the  unjust,  which  we  all 
know  has  been  done  year  after  year,  ever 
since  those  promises  were  made.  And 
then  she  spoke  of  the  great  promise  that 
a  Saviour  should  come  into  the  world,  and 
suffer  and  die,  and  be  raised  again  the 
third  day,  which  had  all  been  fully 
accomplished. 

We  were  a  long  while  getting  home, 
for,  as  I  said  before,  the  breath  of  spring 
had  made  all  things  beautiful.  Above, 
below,  and  around,  were  a  thousand  ob- 
jects that  met  our  gaze,  as  with  a  smile. 
Greenness  was  upon  the  earth,  and 
bright  flowers  of  countless  shapes  and 
colours  were  blended  with  it.  The  red 
maple  was  in  full  bloom,  and  shedding 
fragrance  on  all  around,  and  the  soft 
blue  sky  above  was  painted  with  gor- 
geous clouds,  deepening  from  beauty  to 


40  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

beauty.  I  looked  upon  them  as  they 
floated  on  in  their  majesty,  ever  chang- 
ing their  forms  and  hues.  I  asked  my 
mother  how  God  could  make  such  a 
beautiful  world. 

"It  is  truly  a  beautiful  world,  my  child," 
she  replied,  "  but  he  has  made  another, 
more  beautiful,  where  there  is  no  sin, 
nor  pain,  nor  death.  I  feel  that  it  will 
not  be  long,  before  I  shall  go  to  inherit 
that  blessed  land;  and  then  you  will 
have  no  mother  to  tell  you  about  the 
things  pertaining  to  your  eternal  welfare. 
But  if  you  love  me,  you  will  remember, 
when  I  am  gone,  the  lessons  I  have 
taught  you." 

I  could  not  bear  to  hear  her  speak  of 
dying,  but  I  said  nothing  further  till  we 
reached  home.  She  seemed  greatly  fa- 
tigued, and  I  well  remember  finding  her 
upon  the  bed,  sometime  in  the  afternoon, 
and  besrsrin";  to  lie  down  beside  her.  She 
gave  me  permission,  and  I  soon  had 
my  arms  around  her  neck.  I  was  very 
happy,  for  she  talked  to  me  so  kindly, 
in  those  fond  and  gentle  tones  so  pecu- 
liarly a  mother's  own,  that  it  would  have 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  41 

been  strange  indeed  if  I  could  have 
felt  otherwise. 

She  made  me  repeat  the  Lord's 
Prayer  and  some  verses  of  a  hymn,  but 
my  thoughts  were  wandering  over  the 
green  woods  and  pleasant  fields.  I  fan- 
cied that  the  bed  smelt  like  the  woods, 
and  when  I  asked  what  made  it,  she  put 
her  hand  under  the  pillow  and  pulled 
out  a  branch  of  the  red  maple  that  was 
full  of  flowers. 

I  was  much  surprised;  for  notwith- 
standing my  walk,  where  I  had  breathed 
their  odor,  and  seen  their  hues,  I  never 
dreamed  that  they  were  blossoms  in 
reality.  And  when  I  expressed  my  sur- 
prise, she  remarked  that  there  was  a 
great  deal  in  this  world  to  learn.  That 
I  might  live  till  my  eyes  and  ears  were 
worn  out,  and  yet  know  but  a  small  part 
of  what  was  to  be  known ;  but  that  if 
I  was  observing,  I  would  probably  learn 
something  new  and  interesting  every 
day,  so  long  as  I  should  live.  She  then 
showed  me  a  little  shell  which  she  had 
picked  up,  and  a  tiny  leaf  of  the  Sara- 

cenia,  or  sidesaddle  flower,  which  was 

4* 


42  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

in  shape  somewhat  like  the  bowl  of  a 
pipe.  I  called  the  leaf  my  little  green 
pitcher.  She  bade  me  examine  them 
closely,  and  see  how  curiously  they  were 
made,  adding  that  the  shell  was  a  house 
that  God  had  kindly  provided  for  one 
of  the  most  helpless  of  all  his  creatures. 
I  thought  it  very  curious. 

There  was  a  door  or  place  for  the 
owner  to  go  in,  but  as  I  could  find  none 
for  it  to  pass  out,  I  was  at  a  loss  to 
know  what  it  could  do  with  itself.  Then 
she  explained  its  habits,  how  it  carried 
its  house  from  place  to  place  at  will,  or 
left  it,  to  seek  food,  or  amusement,  and 
how  when  it  was  pursued  it  hid  away  in 
its  winding  retreat,  happy  to  escape 
danger;  and  that  when  the  winds  blew 
coldly,  and  the  long  rains  fell,  it  lay 
snug  and  warm  in  its  own  little  home. 
I  had  often  picked  little  pitchers  when 
in  full  size,  and  recollected  too  that  I 
had  always  found  water  in  them.  My 
mother  asked  me  who  I  supposed  had 
put  it  there,  but  I  could  not  tell  her  who 
had  done  so. 

She  then  said  that  God,  who  made  all 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  43 

things,  had  caused  it  to  be  gathered  there 
for  some  wise  purpose,  and  as  she  had 
often  seen  little  birds  and  insects  alight 
upon  their  brims,  when  she  was  a  child, 
she  had  called  them  the  Birds    Wells. 

As  it  drew  near  the  sunsetting,  the 
air  became  oppressive,  and  a  dull  hue 
overspread  the  skies.  A  black  cloud 
was  gathering  in  the  west.  At  first  it 
seemed  to  rest  upon  the  earth,  and  then 
by  degrees  it  began  to  spread  outward, 
and  upward,  until  the  whole  visible 
heaven  was  covered.  It  was  quite 
dark.  The  little  birds  had  gone  to  their 
nests  for  shelter,  and  the  young  goslings 
and  chickens  were  gathered  under  their 
mothers'  wings,  when  the  sound  of  a 
violent  storm  came  rumbling  through 
the  woods.  A  pale  soft  light  would 
flash  along  the  horizon  at  times,  then 
vanishing  into  the  clouds  it  would  hide 
away  in  their  thick  folds,  as  if  seeking 
its  own  amusement.  I  stood  by  the 
window  for  some  time,  and  watched  the 
returning  gleams  with  great  interest,  for 
I  loved  the  storm  from  my  cradle,  and 
as  it  grew  nearer,  it  became  truly  grand 


44  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

and  beautiful.  I  became  at  length  al- 
most wild  with  delight  as  the  broad 
flashes  broke  forth  from  the  four  corners 
of  the  heavens  at  once,  and  then  as  sud- 
denly withdrew  their  brightness,  leaving 
the  very  blackness  of  darkness  where 
their  glory  had  glowed  thus  terribly. 
And  when  the  deep-toned  thunder  came 
over  the  mountains,  and  rolled  and  died 
away  in  the  distance,  I  should  have 
clapped  my  hands  in  ecstasy,  but  that  I 
was  impressed  with  the  belief  that  the 
thunder  was  nothing  less  than  the  voice 
of  God.  Then  when  the  storm  came 
on  in  its  full  strength,  when  the  thunder 
literally  shook  the  earth,  and  the  light- 
ning streamed  down  the  skies  like  liquid 
fire,  in  all  directions,  I  gladly  climbed 
upon  my  mother's  lap,  and  silently  hid 
my  face  in  her  bosom. 

She  inquired  kindly  if  I  was  afraid  of 
the  lightning,  and  I  told  her  I  never 
felt  afraid  of  any  thing  when  I  was  with 
her.  When  the  storm  had  ceased,  she 
sang  a  hymn  about  the  day  of  judgment, 
and  conversed  upon  the  subject  for 
some  time.     I  remember  a  part  of  her 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  45 

conversation,  which  was  particularly  ad- 
dressed to  myself. 

"  My  dear  child,"  said  she,  "  you  have 
seen  God's  power  displayed  this  evening 
in  the  clouds,  but  bear  in  mind  that  you 
will  yet  witness  a  more  fearful  display 
of  his  power,  when  Christ  shall  come  to 
judge  the  world.  Yes,  we  shall  then  see 
the  mountains  melt,  and  the  seas  con- 
sumed by  fire,  and  the  beautiful  sun,  and 
the  moon  you  so  love  to  look  upon  now, 
will  be  destroyed.  For  Christ  will  come 
to  judge  the  world.  Holy  angels  will 
come  with  him  in  the  clouds,  and  great 
glory  will  attend  him.  A  trumpet  will 
be  sounded,  and  the  dead  shall  hear  it  in 
their  graves.  Every  man  and  every 
woman,  whose  body  is  now  resting  in 
the  earth,  or  in  the  sea,  and  every  little 
child  that  has  breathed,  and  died,  will 
stand,  in  his  own  body,  before  him,  to  be 
judged  according  to  the  deeds  done  in  the 
body.  Ever  keep  this  day  in  mind,  and 
remember  that  you  too  will  be  one  of  that 
number;  and  that  to  all  who  live  in  sin 
and  die  impenitent,  He  will  say :     '  De- 


46  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

part  from  me,  ye  cursed,  into  everlasting 
fire/  What  an  awful  sentence  !  But  to 
all  who  truly  repent  and  believe  on  him 
with  their  whole  heart,  he  will  then  say : 
6  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit 
the  kingdom  prepared  for  you.'  What 
a  blessed  hope  !  Of  all  who  fear  and 
serve  him  in  this  our  mortal  life,  not 
one  will  be  lost.  Nay,  they  will  rest 
upon  him  in  safety  and  in  peace,  when 
this  world  and  all  things  in  it  shall  be 
wrapt  in  flames." 

-  I  cannot  tell  you  all  'she  said ;  but  I 
know  that  she  tried  to  make  me  feel  that 
I  was  a  sinner,  and  that  I  must  not  wait 
till  I  was  a  woman,  before  I  gave  my 
heart  to  God,  and  that  none  but  those 
who  love  and  serve  him  are  truly  happy 
in  this  life.  This  she  again  bade  me  re- 
member, when  she  should  be  taken  from 
my  sight. 

The  storm  was  now  entirely  over,  and 
the  full  moon,  from  the  clear  blue  sky, 
shone  brightly  over  us.  The  rain-drops 
glittered  in  the  light  like  a  shower  of 
diamonds,  and  the  air,  purified  by  the 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  47 

storm,  was  refreshingly  sweet.  The 
whip-poor-wills  began  to  sing  in  the  wood, 
as  if  rejoicing  at  the  calm  sweet  beauty 
of  the  evening,  but  I  was  wearied  with 
the  day's  excitement ;  so  I  kneeled  beside 
my  mother,  and  said  my  prayers,  and 
when  she  had  kissed  me  twice,  she  laid 
me  down  to  sleep. 


Of  the  first  Sabbath  following  this,  I 
have  but  a  faint  and  confused  remem- 
brance ;  but  when  the  second  came,  my 
poor  mother  was  lying  among  the  green 
graves  in  the  church-yard !  I  cannot 
tell  you  how  lonely  and  desolate  I  then 
felt,  or  how  my  young  bruised  heart 
clung  to  my  poor  father,  for  oh  it  is  a 
sad,  sad  memory. 

But  another  week  passed  on,  and  a 
bright  sun  rose  upon  a  holy  Sabbath 
morning,  and  when  its  yellow  light  fell 
o'er  a  waking  world,  it  rested  on  another 
grave.  It  was  longer  and  broader,  but 
it  lay  close  beside  my  mother's.     And 


48  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

then,  dear  children,  I  had  neither  father 
nor  mother  in  the  wide  world !  I  was 
an  orphan.  Night  followed  night,  and 
day  came  after  day,  but  when  I  kneeled 
beside  my  desolate  bed,  no  gentle  hand 
was  laid  upon  my  brow,  and  my  mother's 
voice  came  not  again  to  prompt  the 
prayers  she  had  taught  me. 

Long  years  rolled  on,  and  other  spring- 
times came,  with  fields  as  green  and 
flowers  as  beautiful,  but  I  had  no  mother's 
hand  to  point  out  their  hidden  beauties, 
nor  her  sweet  voice  to  help  me  trace 
God's  handiwork  in  them  all.  And 
though  I  still  loved  to  cull  the  sweetest 
and  the  fairest,  I  did  so  with  a  lessened 
delight,  for  when  I  had  gathered  my 
treasures,  I  had  no  father  nor  mother  to 
smile  upon  my  gift,  or  to  tell  me  it  was 
beautiful. 


And  here,  dear  children,  I  must  again 
urge,  you  to  honour  and  obey  your 
parents.     God  loves  obedient  children, 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  49 

and  will  reward  such  as  respect  the  aged. 
Holy  angels  watch  over  their  slumbers, 
and  peace  dwells  with  them.  Good  men 
approve  their  conduct,  and  younger  chil- 
dren will  copy  their  example.  On  the 
other  hand,  God  has  threatened  the  most 
fearful  judgments  against  the  wilful  and 
disobedient.  The  eye  that  mocketh  at 
his  father,  and  scorneth  to  obey  the  law 
of  his  mother,  the  ravens  of  the  valley 
shall  pick  it  out,  and  the  young  eagles 
shall  eat  it.  These  are  his  very  words. 
Bear  them  in  mind,  and  remember  that 
your  parents  too  may  be  taken  from  you. 
Be  careful  that  then  the  memory  of 
them  is  not  painful  to  you  in  your  or- 
phanage. If  you  have  been  wilfully 
disobedient,  or  have  given  them  pain  by 
hardship  or  neglect,  how  will  you  feel 
when  you  follow  them  to  the  grave? 
Sorrow  then  will  avail  you  nothing,  for 
though  you  may  repent  bitterly  and 
with  tears,  you  can  never  recall  an  unkind 
action,  or  atone  for  one  ungentle  word. 
You  may  call  upon  them  to  forgive  you, 
but  there  will  come  no  voice  of  pardon 
5 


50  TREASURED    MEMORIES 

from  the  grave,  and  to  God,  who  has 
commanded  you  to  honour  and  obey 
them,  you  must  answer  for  your  sin. 

And  here  let  me  entreat  you  to  be 
ever  affectionate  to  your  brothers  and 
sisters,  and  other  kindred.  It  is  truly  a 
great  blessing  to  have  kind  relatives  to 
live  with,  and  no  one  knows  how  bitter 
a  thing  it  is  to  be  parted  from  those  we 
love,  and  to  live  with  strangers  always, 
until  God  has  placed  us  in  such  circum- 
stances. I  could  tell  you  of  the  many 
hours  of  loneliness  which  I  spent  in  my 
own  childhood,  so  dreary  and  so  desolate, 
that  I  have  often  wished  myself  in  the 
grave  with  my  departed  parents;  and 
many  a  time,  when  I  have  seen  my 
schoolmates  welcomed  with  kisses  by 
their  parents,  I  have  turned  away  to 
weep  in  silence  and  in  bitterness  of 
spirit,  that  my  own  sad  heart  had  no  joy 
like  that  in  the  whole  world.  But  I 
have  not  the  time  now,  and  if  I  had  I  do 
not  know  that  it  would  be  right  to  do  so. 
God  knew  what  was  best  for  me,  and  he 
never  afflicts  us  without  good  reasons.    If 


FOR    LITTLE    CHILDREN.  51 

he  takes  away  our  earthly  enjoyments,  it 
is  to  induce  us  to  seek  for  joys  that  never 
perish.  He  has  promised  to  be  a  father 
to  the  fatherless,  and  for  one  I  can  say  I 
have  found  his  promise  true.  For  though 
my  parents  died,  and  my  brothers  and 
sisters  were  scattered  abroad  in  the 
earth,  to  be  gathered  at  one  hearth  no 
more ;  I  found  kindness  in  the  hearts 
of  strangers,  and  have  never  been  with- 
out some  friend  to  tell  me  of  my  errors, 
and  to  help  me  to  correct  or  avoid  them. 
And  now,  dear  children,  I  must  bid 
you  adieu.  At  some  future  time  per- 
haps I  may  tell  you  something  about  my 
scholars.  I  have  had  a  great  many, — 
more  than  a  thousand  I  do  believe, — some 
very  good,  and  some  that  I  could  wish 
had  been  better.  Some  I  have  had  that 
seemed  to  love  me  very  much,  and 
many  that  I  loved  dearly.  Some  of 
them  have  grown  to  manhood,  and  some 
I  trust  are  in  heaven.  I  love  to  call 
them  to  mind,  and  live  the  pleasant  past 
times  over,  and  I  often  dream  that  they 
are  with  me,  and  fancy  that  I  am  listen- 


52 


TREASURED    MEMORIES. 


ing  to  their  ringing  laughter  when  the 
night  is  still  and  the  moon  dim.  It  is  a 
sweet  delusion  that  makes  me  happier, 
and  when  next  we  meet,  I  hope  to  tell 
you  something  that  will  make  you  love 
them  too. 


*s?  t 


